my photos

a ginger cat, and a giveaway win ...

This cat isn't our cat, we don't have a cat. Cats just love spending time in our garden, from dusk 'til dawn. With undergrowth to explore and hide, birds and frogs to stalk, and butterflies and moths to tease.

This ginger cat has a very bushy tail and trots, just like a fox. It reminds me of Gizmo, who belongs to a blog pal Simone, at Linden Grove.

It shares the garden with a black cat, who I call Lucky, whose favourite spot is sitting on top of pots in the late afternoon sunshine and who spends early morning hours asleep, curled up in the flower border.

When this pair meet, they really don't get on, and I'm often witness to a hissy fit.



Simone recently had a giveaway, the prize being a set of handmade cards. Lucky me, I won!



Where does your cat like to hangout?


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I found these lovely tags in the parcel too! Thanks Simone.
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raspberry bakewell cake ...

I baked this cake this morning. There's been ample yield of pick-your-own raspberries in the garden again this summer. This is a great way of using some.

It's still warm, the kettles on, and it's coming up for elevenses!
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a walk down to Amberley Wildbrooks ...

A lovely way to spend time on a Bank Holiday.

Early morning, we start off at Greatham Bridge, and from the car park walk across to the other side of the river to take the Wey South path, which runs through the middle of the brooks.

At this time of year, and at this hour of the day, walking through the long undergrowth means wet walking shoes and soggy trouser bottoms! Thankfully soon drying out once the sun came up.
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Greatham Bridge was built by Sir Henry Tregoz in the early 14th century, of where a skirmish took place during the English Civil War.



Stepping over a two-step stile, of which there are quite a few to negotiate along the way.

How about this for a romantic snippet taken from an old countryside book, which I picked up from a boot sale recently - upon the steps of these stiles, country folk meet to take their lovers' vows at ease and to do their courting.



Walking briskly past a crop of ripening maize.

A field of screams! These fields always remind me of scary movies.



Screaching to a standstill, hanging over the fence, to say hello to these two beautiful horses. The lovely white one set me off humming out loud! Remember this?



At this point rather fancying a sit down. A beautifully crafted seat on an implement from farming days gone by. I'd imagine it's seen a few numb bums in its time!



Standing here we question why we travel for miles, when we have beautiful countryside like this on our doorstep?



Walking on, whoops! Taking great care with every forward step!



We come across this lovely old tree stump and encounter lots of wildlife along the way.

In the air, three kestrels being lifted on the wind, and a flight of swallows. On the ground, grasshoppers, pheasants and three galloping deer. In between, whitethroats in a tree, red admiral and small white butterflies on a buddleia bush, dragonflies, blue damselflies, and a huge hornet!

Beware, the ground in places is very boggy and slippery underfoot.

These brooks remind me of days growing up on a farm. Disappearing for hours, on a summers day, with brother and mates, quite happy to make our own amusement, no doubt causing Mum much angst, wondering where on earth we were, and what we were getting up to!



There being a slight breeze it was difficult to get a photo of the lovely wildflowers amidst the grasses. I managed this one.

Out of shot, three white swans are busy preening alongside the grassy banks of the River Arun, which flows into the English Channel at Littlehampton.

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As we return to the car, a beautiful black swan cruises gracefully through the water close to the bridge.

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plan bee ...

Bees will travel a long distance from their nest to find pollen and nectar. Some bees dance, in a figure of eight, to spread the word of a juicy source! Plant Michaelmas Daisies in your garden and you will have bees buzzing with excitement on a sunny day.

Bees are nature's number one pollinator, but they're on the decline. That's why the Co-operative have launched Plan Bee. If you want to find out how you can do more for bees, click on the link.

It's busy being a bee! How about giving them a well-deserved boost with an energy drink. Mix two tablespoons of white granulated sugar with a tablespoon of water in an eggcup, and then place amongst a bee-friendly flower.

Please do not give them brown sugar, honey, Red Bull or Lucazade!

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some Shoreham Airshow shadowshots ...

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Another great day was spent at the Shoreham Airshow, which this year celebrates its 20th anniversary. With the first show raising £1,500, it now raises more than 1.5 million, with proceeds going to RAFA. It really is a fantastic day out, with something for everyone.

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A jaw-dropping highlight of my day being the appearance of the Avro Vulcan Bomber XH558!

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We only live a few miles away from the airport, so I'm really looking forward to seeing parts of the displays again from the garden, on its second day tomorrow.

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my photos

the birthplace of Thomas Hardy ...

Thomas Hardy was born in this cottage at Higher Bockhampton in Dorset on 2nd June 1840, and lived here until the age of 34.



It faces West, and round the back and sides
High beeches bending, hang a veil of boughs
-Domicilium

On the day we were passing the cottage was closed, but fortunately for us you can see much of the exterior and gardens from the track, so at least we were able to have a nose over the wall!



The cottage is the fictional Tranter Dewy's House in the novel 'Under The Greenwood Tree', written at the window seat of Hardy's bedroom.



Remember the 1978 dramatisation of The Mayor of Casterbridge. Alan Bates plays Michael Henchard, a man who under the influence of rum-laced furmity, sells his wife and baby for five guineas.

I'd watch it religiously with my Mum, and after we'd utter, many thankies, in the fictional county of Wessex dialect!

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kindness is a heavenly virtue ...

I was one lucky recipient of spontaneous kindness from Diana at Pebbledash the other day, after receiving through the post one of her gocco print notecards, inspired by Cornish hedgerow.

On recycled paper, it arrived along with an envelope to match, with a wrap of lilac paper, string and matching tag.



Cornish Cliffs - by Sir John Betjeman

Those moments, tasted once and never done - Of long surf breaking in the midday sun - A far off blowhole booming like a gun - The seagulls plane and circle out of sight - Below this thirsty, thrift-encrusted height - The veined sea-campion buds burst into white - And gorse turns tawny orange, seen beside - Pale drifts of primroses cascading wide - To where the slate falls sheer into the tide - More than in gardened Surrey, nature spills - A wealth of heather, kidney-vetch and squills - Over these long-defended Cornish hills - A gun-emplacement of the latest war - Looks older than the hill fort built before Saxon or Norman headed for the shore - And in the shadowless, unclouded glare - Deep blue above us fades to whiteness where - A misty sea-line meets the wash of air - Nut smell of gorse and honey smell of ling - Waft out to sea the freshness of the spring - On sunny shallows, green and whispering - The wideness which the lark-song gives the sky - Shrinks at the clang of seabirds sailing by - Whose notes are tuned to days when seas are high - From today's calm, the lane's enclosing green - Leads inland to a usual Cornish scene - Slate cottages with sycamore between - Small fields and tellymasts and wires and poles - With, as the everlasting ocean rolls - Two chapels built for half a hundred souls.

Louise x
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up, up and away heading west ...

A holiday - time free from work that one may spend at leisure.

We recently returned from our eagerly anticipated short break down West, staying in South Chard in Somerset in recently refurbished outbuildings which provided us with all the mod cons, and a pub which provided us with a hearty breakfast each morning. A great base for exploring the surrounding countryside, towns, and ideally central for the equally appealing bordering counties of east Devon and west Dorset too.

Even though we look on these breaks as a chance to wind down, each day is spent packing in as much as a middle-aged couple possibly can!

Retirement - withdrawal from one's occupation, business, or office.

Can't wait!



Britain has almost as many types of native stone as it has local traditional cheeses! Have you visited Beer Quarry Caves in Devon? If you ever do, make sure you take a fleece, it is extremely cold down there. Infact I developed a really bad headache and stiff neck which fortunately miraculously disappeared once I was back outside in the heat of the day. An ideal place to visit in the midday sun, when only mad dogs and Englishmen will go out.

Local Beer stone was used in the building of many famous buildings and monuments such as Exeter and St Paul's Cathedral, parts of Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, Hampton Court and Windsor Castle.

The photo above shows just one of many carvings made by quarrymen, young and old, who spent long, tedious hours working each and every day in the most appauling conditions. Cold, damp, dark, and the only light being provided by odorous tallow candles. With wages poor, many of these men and their families would resort to smuggling just to make ends meet. With interesting and informative commentary from the tour guide, a local resident of Beer, much of what he said really hit home the fact how easy life really is nowadays.



Our next stop was at the properties of the National Trust, which nestle in the really pretty village of Branscombe, a mile or so from Beer.



The Old Bakery, with open fires and old baking equipment, which is now a teashop. We resisted!


The Forge, the only thatched one surviving in England, which sells locally made iron goods.



You can park the car in the village and take a short walk over land owned by the National Trust to the beach, where if you want to drive down there is a carpark, a souvenir/beachware shop, and a restaurant/coffee shop where we sat for a while with each other, and a cappuchino for company. A pair of swifts distracted us by going in and out of their nest, a residence most tastefully chosen under the eaves of the thatch. We also watched sparrows enjoying leftover crumbs.

We then spent about an hour relaxing on the beach, which was long enough in the heat of the day.



Walking back, we stopped off at the recently restored Manor Mill, which is now back in full working order.



Another very well informed tour guide told us the history of the mill. The grain used for demonstration purposes is provided by a local farmer, but unfortunately because of regulations set by the Foods Standards Agency, the flour produced can only be used as cattle feed. A great shame as it would have made a very tasty loaf!



On the journey back we stopped off at a working farm which just happened to have a tearooms and garden, where I gave into tempation and had the obligatory cream tea, a Devonshire one on this occasion. If you don't already know, this consists of two warm scones topped with clotted cream and strawberry jam, and a pot of tea served with milk.

I just cannot return home from the West Country without having one, and am all for keeping the tradition going!
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my photos

the pearl of dorset ...

Lyme Regis, fit for a king, and Jane Austin! She spent a considerable time in Lyme Regis in the first years of the 19th century, and a plaque marks her residence.



A view of the famous stone Cobb, an ancient harbour wall which has sheltered seafarers for centuries and has long inspired artists, and writers like Jane Austen. Scenes from Persuasion and Northanger Abbey are set in the area, and the opening scene from the film The French Lieutenant's Woman, based on the novel by John Fowles, was shot here too.



Overlooking Lyme Bay, from beautiful public gardens created a few years back, and since our last visit has greatly matured. An ideal place to sit, or stand, to take in views of Lyme Regis.

The town is a mosaic of narrow, windy streets rising steeply up from the sea.

As someone who takes photos just for pleasure, I was pleased with the photo used in my last post, (a postcard from Worthing), of how perfect it looks (positioning, colour etc), in an amateur's eyes anyway. In this photo no manipulation was used at all, and it got me thinking, and later tinkering with recent holidays snapshots.

With many packages available nowadays for manipulating photos, often one touch of a button, and thinking back to another post of mine of snaps taken by family of Port Isaac in Cornwall back in the '50s, I decided to save a few snaps in black and white.

Does black and white photography offer a more creative view to the world? Do you prefer black and white to colour? Please leave a vote in my July poll?



Back to colour. Bunting in monochrome just don't look quite the same!
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